MCT Language Arts Level 5 – Lens I Level

The fifth level of the MCT language arts curriculum offers a high level of challenge. Using the strategies explained in Advanced Academic Writing I, Michael Clay Thompson teaches the students how to write academic essays, complete with citations and works cited. The grammar book, The Magic Lens I, explores the intricacies of how the English language is constructed through grammar. There are 500 stems in The Word Within the Word I that will enable students to understand words that they have never before encountered, and the 250 important vocabulary words will bring students’ language skills to impressive levels. Also in that book is an engaging discussion of Greece in the classical age from 490 to 323 B.C. The poetics strand is at once an important and a fun part of the curriculum. As with all levels, the students in Michael’s online classes will not only get the opportunity for live classes but also will see a good deal more in the way of images and explication than those who simply use the texts.

During the second semester, Michael will be teaching the Time Trilogy of literary novels.

Live classes will be held most Thursdays at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The first semester begins the week of August 19th and ends the week of December 16th. The second semester begins the week of January 13th, 2020, and ends the week of May 11th. There will not be a live class every week. The core of the course is the assignments and the extensive feedback given by Michael, with the live class being a voluntary enrichment for students who are able to attend. Students’ attendance of the live classes has no effect on their grades. Students unable to attend a live class will be able to access a recording of the class.

Assignments: Vary by class

Student Expectations: Students must be able to do assignments using a keyboard (no handwritten assignments) and be comfortable accessing the internet.

Student Support: Michael is available via email.

Feedback/Assessment: Michael may reply to students’ answers with comments or questions, and he will want them to answer those emails.

Materials/Supplies: Students will need the Level 5 texts: The Magic Lens I, The Word Within the Word I, Advanced Academic Writing I, Poetry and Humanity, and 4Practice I, as well as the Time Trilogy novels: The Time Machine, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, and A Christmas Carol. Students will need to have an email account and access to a computer with audio and video capabilities.